Poaching in Northern Mozambique / Limpopo Province SA

[ozymandias24]

Hello All,

I'm looking for some information about poaching activities in norther Mozambique and the cross-border region around Kruger National Park. Keen to hear from anyone who knows about the modus operandi of the poaching gangs up there, and especially where they get their firearms from! Any individuals or organizations doing work in this area that you think I should talk to?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Oz

 

[Bushpig4Ever]

Why don’t you contact Kruger National Park (sanparks.org.). Maybe they are willing to give you some infos.

 

[ozymandias24]

Why don’t you contact Kruger National Park (sanparks.org.). Maybe they are willing to give you some infos.

Thanks, I will do!

Was also hoping that perhaps some people on this forum had contacts in anti-poaching / wildlife law enforcement in that area that might be willing to share some info?

 

[mark-hunter]

For poachers, dont expect state of the art guns, or something like that.

https://www.guns.com/news/2018/12/18/african-poachers-use-homemade-guns-that-define-unsafe-video

 

[Red Leg]

For poachers, dont expect state of the art guns, or something like that.

https://www.guns.com/news/2018/12/18/african-poachers-use-homemade-guns-that-define-unsafe-video

Unfortunately, the poachers carrying out the daily assault on white rhino in the Limpopo are far better equipped. Phillip Bronkhorst had a magnificent young bull that was going to be moved to a large nearby ranch that was establishing a herd (a ranch that also had the resources to maintain 24 hr anti-poaching patrols.) His bull, like many others in the region was killed by a .375 round to the head. Typically, the poachers operate in two or three man teams. They will drive the concession boundary fence where rhinos are known to be kept. The shooter and sometimes a second poacher (carrying water and food) are dropped off, and they disappear into the concession until they can find tracks and then the rhino.

While I was there last year, a pair were caught, armed with a CZ .375 and four sets of horns in their pickup. Several of the recent rifle seizures were traced to Mozambique where the speculation was that a Chinese company was underwriting the import of the rifles. I am sure several of the concession owners here can provide you far more detailed information.

 

[mark-hunter]

Quite informative, and interesting! Thanks for comment @Red Leg

 

[fourfive8]

+2 to what Red Leg posted. PHs and outfitters in Mozambique (and other countries as well) are painfully aware of the "system".

As to methods, financing and "equipement"?... I saw the same in Mozambique. Chinese middleman on the ground acting as local recruiter and government "liaison" for all manner of illegal harvest destined for China - from hardwoods to rhino horn and ivory. Clue was brand new, high-end equipment suddenly showing up in hands of locals who until then could only afford local blacksmith axes and homemade muzzleloaders.

 

[Dee S]

f'n chinese like locust

 

[Ed Lally]

It is really tragic how a once honorable and cultured people have exchanged their identity for their current state of affairs. Could their current form of government have anything to do with this?

 

[ozymandias24]

Unfortunately, the poachers carrying out the daily assault on white rhino in the Limpopo are far better equipped. Phillip Bronkhorst had a magnificent young bull that was going to be moved to a large nearby ranch that was establishing a herd (a ranch that also had the resources to maintain 24 hr anti-poaching patrols.) His bull, like many others in the region was killed by a .375 round to the head. Typically, the poachers operate in two or three man teams. They will drive the concession boundary fence where rhinos are known to be kept. The shooter and sometimes a second poacher (carrying water and food) are dropped off, and they disappear into the concession until they can find tracks and then the rhino.

While I was there last year, a pair were caught, armed with a CZ .375 and four sets of horns in their pickup. Several of the recent rifle seizures were traced to Mozambique where the speculation was that a Chinese company was underwriting the import of the rifles. I am sure several of the concession owners here can provide you far more detailed information.

Thanks Red Leg, this is really interested (and sad). It sounds like the Chinese have a very organised system in place, bringing in the weapons for the poachers, then presumably helping with the export of the horns once the poaching has occurred?

I spent some time on Piet Warren's farm in Limpopo a few years ago, and was amazed at the lengths (and expense) they had to go to to prevent poaching on their concession.

 

[ozymandias24]

+2 to what Red Leg posted. PHs and outfitters in Mozambique (and other countries as well) are painfully aware of the "system".

As to methods, financing and "equipement"?... I saw the same in Mozambique. Chinese middleman on the ground acting as local recruiter and government "liaison" for all manner of illegal harvest destined for China - from hardwoods to rhino horn and ivory. Clue was brand new, high-end equipment suddenly showing up in hands of locals who until then could only afford local blacksmith axes and homemade muzzleloaders.

Thanks fourfive8. Do you have any specific examples of news articles on this I could follow up? Or any contacts you'd be willing to share for me to find out more? Really interesting.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Hello All,

I'm looking for some information about poaching activities in norther Mozambique and the cross-border region around Kruger National Park. Keen to hear from anyone who knows about the modus operandi of the poaching gangs up there, and especially where they get their firearms from! Any individuals or organizations doing work in this area that you think I should talk to?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Oz

You might try Ivan Carter at Wildlife Alliance. ivancarterwca.org.

 

[ozymandias24]

Thanks Doug, I will reach out to him.

 

[flatwater bill]

Simon Leach was a sponsor here on AH for many a year. He hunted northern Mozambique. a combination of government bullshit and poaching forced him out of the industry. You should talk to him....his business was called Traditional Mozambique Safaris (TMS) send me a PM and I will find him for you..................FWB

 

[ozymandias24]

Simon Leach was a sponsor here on AH for many a year. He hunted northern Mozambique. a combination of government bullshit and poaching forced him out of the industry. You should talk to him....his business was called Traditional Mozambique Safaris (TMS) send me a PM and I will find him for you..................FWB

Thanks Bill, I will send a PM now!

 

[neckdeep]

The Duckworths run a pretty extensive anti-poaching crew on Coutada 9 in central Moz. I would guess most all of the big elephant have been poached out there, basically I believe they are surrounded by people and the local government is most likely in on the slaughter. They had there most prized scout killed in a shootout with well a organized bunch of them. They gather snares and gin traps most every day. Reach out to them they may want to comment. Are you writing an article or just interested?